# Aggressively violent imagery - equal among both parties? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228 "2011-01-11T16:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/41 "2011-01-11T18:39:24Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > They target prey to be killed. > > I personally don’t care one way or the other about the violent language or imagery. It is common to talk about your opponents in those types of terms. And yes both party candidates, pundits, analysts, editorialists, bloggers, do it. > > What’s next? Banning of violent talk around sports? If that’s meant to be a response to my post, it’s awfully evasive. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/42 "2011-01-11T18:40:02Z")
> [@](#): > > Here is a primer of the violent imagery and violent acts commited by lefties… Michelle Malkin? Wow. And you’re not kidding, are you? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/43 "2011-01-11T18:42:25Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Here is a primer of the violent imagery and violent acts commited by lefties over the past decade. And, don’t forget the book and movie about the assassination of GW Bush. > > [http://michellemalkin.com/](http://michellemalkin.com/) I’m pretty sure that **Really Not All That Bright** would attribute at least 60% of that to Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/44 "2011-01-11T18:43:29Z")
> [@Kyomara](#): > > If that’s meant to be a response to my post, it’s awfully evasive. Evasive of what? The impact of using violent imagery in political speech? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/45 "2011-01-11T18:43:45Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Blame for what? > > The rhetoric? If so, other than potentially being politically insensitive or incorrect. What does the increased rhetoric cause? Hurt feelings? > > The violence that occured in Tuscon? Not even by a stretch, can you find any causual link between the two. I said in the part you cut out. The blame for enabling other politicians to increase the violent rhetoric. The blame for making it okay to bring guns to rallies. I did not mention direct responsibility for this incident, so I’ll thank you to not edit my post to make it seem I did. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/46 "2011-01-11T18:53:19Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I said in the part you cut out. The blame for enabling other politicians to increase the violent rhetoric. The blame for making it okay to bring guns to rallies. I did not mention direct responsibility for this incident, so I’ll thank you to not edit my post to make it seem I did. What’s wrong with violent rhetoric? They’re metaphors used to make a point. Most lucid sane people understand metaphors. I even get the ones referred to in Yorick73’s link. What’s wrong with people exorcising their right to bear arms and educating others on such rights? Please show me a cite where people that brought guns to rally’s intended to cause other people harm with them? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/47 "2011-01-11T18:55:18Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Wow! now that’s a stretch. 11 years ago, Trent Lott speaking at the invitation of a group is equivalent to the Republican Party recruiting such group? If you were offered a chance to speak in front of this group, would you accept? Why or why not? Here are some of the precepts of the group, taken directly from their website: > [@](#): > > We believe that the United States derives from and is an integral part of European civilization and the European people and that the American people and government should remain European in their composition and character. We therefore oppose the massive immigration of non-European and non-Western peoples into the United States that threatens to transform our nation into a non-European majority in our lifetime. > > We also oppose all efforts to mix the races of mankind, to promote non-white races over the European-American people through so-called “affirmative action” and similar measures, to destroy or denigrate the European-American heritage, including the heritage of the Southern people, and to force the integration of the races. > > And if you did accept, would you say that “the people in this room stand for the right principles and the right philosophy. Let’s take it in the right direction and our children will be the beneficiaries”? Because that’s what Trent Lott said. Oh, and Haley Barbour has spoke to them as well. > > We believe in the traditional family as the basic unit of human society and morality, and we oppose all efforts by the state and other powers to weaken the structure of the American family through toleration of sexual licentiousness, homosexuality and other perversions, **mixture of the races,** pornography in all forms, and subversion of the authority of parents. > > We oppose the presence of homosexuals and women in the military services and especially of women in combat roles. They go on to talk about efforts to “debunk” Martin Luther King’s “Christ-like” support in popular culture, brag that they are the “Only group advocating for “white rights” that attracts elected figures as speakers,” and relay some interesting findings on the Jews. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/48 "2011-01-11T18:57:37Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Semantics. This whole argument is stupid, and a shame that people, pundits, etc. are using a tragedy for political argument. News flash: the political arguments have already long ago walked out the barn door-and it wasn’t “liberals” who allowed them to get out. I instead see it as using the tragedy as an opportunity to point out what has long needed to be said-that prominent conservative commentators and even politicians have been spewing vile hateful violent rhetoric for awhile now, to the possible detriment of our country. And, while it certainly is true that we, at the present, are not privy to the mindset of the assassin, even if it turns out that he is certifiably looney tunes (I’ve seen a lot of armchair psychoanalysis, most of it unconvincing), in conjunction with any presumed association in the mind of the killer with right-wing pundits and their “cheerleading”, his insanity would NOT be a “Absolve Ourselves of all Responsibility” card for the right. And, I’m just curious: at what point would they (and their apologists) finally be compelled to admit that their hateful speech does in fact correlate, even in the most miniscule and infinitesimal way, with the latest act of right-wing terrorism (which is what this was, on the second count, even if on the first count we’re not sure yet)? Does an armed militia need to go massacre 100 Latinos in Los Angeles before they finally say, “Okay, perhaps we need to dial it back a bit”? Or does somebody need to blow up an Islamic community in an apartment building in New York, killing 500, before they finally see the light? And even if each and every instance of right wing vitriol is precisely counterbalanced by a counterpart on the left (highly doubtful), why can’t Palin & Co, take the moral high road and refuse to engage in such speech-two wrongs don’t make a right, ya know. Please enlighten me on these questions. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/49 "2011-01-11T18:57:46Z")
I saw the Dems use of target imagery a reaction to the righties use. They sure did not start it. But when it proved effective in generating enthusiasm among the "target audience’, the Dems started to respond by using it too. But the Dems use was no where near as up front and Palin’s and many other Repubs . Sarah and her re-load surely puts a lie to her weaseling out of her potential responsibility for lowering the discourse and overt use of gun imagery. She is not directly responsible for the Arizona shooting. This was a nut case who had the ability to buy a gun when he was mentally unstable. You can spread that blame around . ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/50 "2011-01-11T18:58:13Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > If you were offered a chance to speak in front of this group, would you accept? Why or why not? I would not. But the fact that Trent Lott, did is still a far cry from the Republican Party recruiting them. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/51 "2011-01-11T19:01:40Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I said in the part you cut out. The blame for enabling other politicians to increase the violent rhetoric. The blame for making it okay to bring guns to rallies. I did not mention direct responsibility for this incident, so I’ll thank you to not edit my post to make it seem I did. As a personal anecdote, I know for a fact that at a Reagan campaign stop in Connecticut during the 1980 presidential race, there were at least three handguns in the audience. We probably would have gotten into a lot of trouble if anyone searched us. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/52 "2011-01-11T19:01:40Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Here is a primer of the violent imagery and violent acts commited by lefties over the past decade. And, don’t forget the book and movie about the assassination of GW Bush. > > [http://michellemalkin.com/](http://michellemalkin.com/) And which of those was promoted by a Democratic nominee for federal office? At least we have the sense not to nominate our whackos; Republicans just can’t help voting for theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/53 "2011-01-11T19:04:20Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > News flash: the political arguments have already long ago walked out the barn door-and it wasn’t “liberals” who allowed them to get out. > > I instead see it as using the tragedy as an opportunity to point out what has long needed to be said-that prominent conservative commentators and even politicians have been spewing vile hateful violent rhetoric for awhile now, to the possible detriment of our country. And, while it certainly is true that we, at the present, are not privy to the mindset of the assassin, even if it turns out that he is certifiably looney tunes (I’ve seen a lot of armchair psychoanalysis, most of it unconvincing), in conjunction with any presumed association in the mind of the killer with right-wing pundits and their “cheerleading”, his insanity would NOT be a “Absolve Ourselves of all Responsibility” card for the right. > > And, I’m just curious: at what point would they (and their apologists) finally be compelled to admit that their hateful speech does in fact correlate, even in the most miniscule and infinitesimal way, with the latest act of right-wing terrorism (which is what this was, on the second count, even if on the first count we’re not sure yet)? Does an armed militia need to go massacre 100 Latinos in Los Angeles before they finally say, “Okay, perhaps we need to dial it back a bit”? Or does somebody need to blow up an Islamic community in an apartment building in New York, killing 500, before they finally see the light? And even if each and every instance of right wing vitriol is precisely counterbalanced by a counterpart on the left (highly doubtful), why can’t Palin & Co, take the moral high road and refuse to engage in such speech-two wrongs don’t make a right, ya know. Please enlighten me on these questions. So your whole point is: It was the conservatives that started it! :rolleyes: Your allegation that the shooting in Tuscon is “right wing terrorism” is misguided and shows your inability to discern fact from fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/54 "2011-01-11T19:04:28Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > I would not. But the fact that Trent Lott, did is still a far cry from the Republican Party recruiting them. When the Majority Leader of the Senate endorses a racist organization, it’s worth standing up and taking notice. And removing him from office. Which is what happened. Because one of the top three leaders of the party was paying complements to a racist organization during fairly regular appearances. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/55 "2011-01-11T19:06:55Z")
If a guy goes wild with a bow and arrow at a Republican congressional event, the Democrats are going to feel terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/56 "2011-01-11T19:07:32Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > When the Majority Leader of the Senate endorses a racist organization, it’s worth standing up and taking notice. > > And removing him from office. Which is what happened. Because one of the top three leaders of the party was paying complements to a racist organization during fairly regular appearances. What the hell does this have to do with this thread? Go start your own if you want to put Lott on a pole. Your cite still doesn’t show any actual recruitment by the GOP of hate groups. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/57 "2011-01-11T19:10:04Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > What the hell does this have to do with this thread? Go start your own if you want to put Lott on a pole. Your cite still doesn’t show any actual recruitment by the GOP of hate groups. You asked for a cite. I have a cite. If you are so embarrassed by someone showing a connection between a top Republican leader and a racist group, take me to the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/58 "2011-01-11T19:10:32Z")
> [@yorick73](#): > > Here is a primer of the violent imagery and violent acts commited by lefties over the past decade. And, don’t forget the book and movie about the assassination of GW Bush. Are you talking about the British production _Death of a President_? If so, are you attempting to claim that the film advocated the assassination of GWB? If it didn’t, that would undercut your case a bit, wouldn’t it? [Here’s the Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_President_(2006_film)). I leave it to readers to decide whether **Yorick** has found a valid example of American left-wing violent imagery or not. ---
**Author:** ![\_richard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/f05b48/32.png) [@\_richard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_richard)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/59 "2011-01-11T19:12:33Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > [http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/04/democrats-our-bullseye-targets-on-house-districts-are-not-like-palins-crosshair-targets/](http://www.postonpolitics.com/2010/04/democrats-our-bullseye-targets-on-house-districts-are-not-like-palins-crosshair-targets/) > > Democrats used target symbols in their imagery to go after house districts. They believe its innocuous since it’s the same symbol used by the retailer Target. (uhm, copyright infringment much?) > > Semantics. This whole argument is stupid, and a shame that people, pundits, etc. are using a tragedy for political argument. Semantics? you feel the symbol for a general target has the same sort of power as the symbol for a rifle target? considering the history in the US… ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228/60 "2011-01-11T19:14:23Z")
> [@\_richard](#): > > Semantics? you feel the symbol for a general target has the same sort of power as the symbol for a rifle target? > > considering the history in the US… They are both metaphors and a rational sane person knows that they aren’t literal. Did you think that Sarah Palin’s map meant that she and others were actually going to kill those candidates? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aggressively-violent-imagery-equal-among-both-parties/567228.md?page=4)